Chip Thompson: Reader reaction to Daily News redesign a mixed bag

I expected to hear from lots of readers this week as we launched a major redesign of the Daily News. What I didn't expect was the large number of compliments we've received.

Any time something changes in any newspaper, there is a hue and cry. This time was no different, with complaints focussing almost exclusively on the reduction — less than a point — in type size. Older readers in particular have complained it is too difficult to read and have asked what's the value in making the paper better looking, if they can't read it? Good point. I can't promise anything, except that this feedback is being passed on to the designers.

In a conversation with a fellow editor recently, he said people complained about a reduction in font size at his paper. Some of those same readers called back a few days later to thank him for increasing the size again. Only one problem, he didn't. The readers got comfortable with the new size.

I understand many print subscribers, especially older readers, don't want to read the news online. But visitors to redbluffdailynews.com, and any site for that matter, can increase the font size to whatever is comfortable. Just an option.

On to the unexpected. A great number of you have called and written to let me know how much you like the new look. Many have said the paper is better organized and easier to navigate. Others appreciate the additional state, nation and world news. Still others say they're proud to have a more professional looking local paper.

That last one did prompt one of the more curious complaints of the week. One reader said the new design made the Daily News look like a big city paper rather than a small town newspaper that would best reflect Red Bluff's character. I'll chalk that up as a compliment.

A couple of things readers may not have noticed include the almost full page of sports agate mentioned in a previous column, daily lottery results, larger photos throughout and an expanded weather report that includes rainfall levels measured in Red Bluff rather than Redding — one of the more persistent complaints over the last few years.

It has been a hectic week as we all learn a new system for managing content and figure out work flows. My apologies to any of you who have reached out to me and are still awaiting a reply. We are getting more comfortable with the system each day.

The new system provides many advantages, but the one that you will probably notice most is our ability to post stories on redbluffdailynews.com in a more timely manner.

Under the old system our webmaster, Senia Owensby, would post stories each morning from that day's edition. Exceptions were breaking news items, but they still relied on Senia being available to post the content — which she was good about, even at night and on weekends.

The new system allows each of us in the newsroom to post to the site whenever a story is ready — and from wherever we happen to be, as long as we have access to the Internet.

This means coverage of Wednesday night's Corning High School basketball games went live on the site not too long after the games finished. Night games 30 minutes away mean that we can't get coverage on the page before our print deadline of 9:30 p.m. But now we can effectively publish game coverage, and coverage of other news and events, around the clock as it's written.

Change is always difficult, especially when prompted by budget cuts, but I'm pleased that this time around readers are appreciating all the positives that come with it.